DPW Releases Statement Regarding Direct Care Worker Payroll

HARRISBURG – Department of Public Welfare Secretary Gary D. Alexander has released a statement regarding the status of the transition of payroll services for Medicaid enrollee participants who receive home and community-based services from direct care workers.

Home and community-based services were previously handled by 37 payroll providers.

On Jan. 1, 2013, Public Partnerships, LLC (PPL), became the sole provider of payroll services in the commonwealth. Under the new contract, participants now submit time sheets for their direct care workers to PPL to issue payroll for services rendered. This model is used in almost all other states nationwide.

The department has been working closely with PPL, and since Jan. 1, 91 percent of all timesheets received have been validated and paid. Many of the remaining timesheets involve workers statewide who were not paid by previous providers before the Jan. 1 transition.

Alexander updated the public on the transition by saying:

“Our priority since last fall has been to ensure a seamless transition of payroll services and ensure that no consumer goes without care and no worker goes without pay. Unfortunately, many direct care workers are experiencing a delay on the part of former providers who have failed to pay them prior to the transition. This is not acceptable.

We can no longer tolerate hard-working individuals who are caring for our most vulnerable citizens to go without pay, and are working on a plan that will ultimately ensure appropriate payments are made to all affected Pennsylvanians.

We apologize for the inconvenience this situation has caused our direct care workers. I can assure you that DPW and PPL will continue to aggressively work to resolve payroll errors and seek the cooperation of our previous vendors to resolve any outstanding payroll issues.”

PPL will be contacting the 1,800 individuals affected by the transition from the old providers by the end of the week with details on how and when they will be receiving payment. Customers who do not hear from PPL this week can call 1-877-908-1750, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. for a status on their payroll processing.